MP High Court Rejects PIL Alleging Preferential Treatment To 'VIPs' At Mahakaleshwar Temple

The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed a PIL alleging that the management committee of Ujjain's Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple permitted entry inside the Garbhagriha (innermost sanctum) only to "so-called VIPs" to offer water to the deity, while denying access to the general public. The petitioner claimed that such conduct by the temple administrator was discriminatory and arbitrary.However, the bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi observed that neither the protocols published by the management nor any statutory Acts or Rules defined 'who is a VIP'. It said that the petitioner had produced the minutes of the Managing Committee of Mahakaleshwar Mandir which shows that there is no specific prohibition in respect of entering into the Garbhagriha. The court noted that as per the minutes, the VIPs can enter the innermost sanctum with a permission of Collector and Administrator of Management Committee. It thus said that who is VIP in the opinion of Collector and Administrator of Mahakaleshwar cannot be decided in a writ petition, as it is "purely a discretion" of the competent authorityThe court therefore held:"On a particular day looking to the status of the person, the Collector shall be the competent authority to treat him VIP for the purpose of offering water to the deity. There is no permanent list or protocol published by Managing Committee of the VIPs persons. Hence, the writ Court cannot decide as to who is VIP amongst the persons visiting Mahakaleshwar Temple on a particular day""The "VIP" has not been defined in any of the statutory Act or rules, any person who is given permission by competent authority to enter inside the Garbhagriha may be treated as VIP on a particular day & time schedule. This is the system applicable in all the religious places in India. The petitioner appears to be a personal aggrieved person, hence, writ petition at the instance of petitioner is not maintainable. In view of above, petition stands dismissed," it added. The PIL, filed by Darpan Awasthi, contended that since the temple is a public religious institute, 'the arbitrary denial of entry to ordinary devotees while allowing VIP access is violative of Article 14 (Equality before Law). Because such action undermines Article 25 (Freedom of Religion) by denying equal opportunity to worship'.The petitioner submitted that he had tried to gather information under the RTI Act, but was refused by the management committee. In his petition, he cited several instances of preferential treatment and stated that he had sought details regarding the authority responsible for granting such permission. For instance the plea claimed that on July 8, 2024, BJP State Organization In-charge Mahendra Singh, along with his family and entire staff, was permitted entry into the sanctum sanctorum. It further claimed that on August 9, 2024, BJP MLA Anil Jain Kaluheda and the president of the BJP Ujjain Sarafa Mandal were permitted entry into the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakaleshwar TempleThe plea also claimed that on August 19, 2024, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, along with his family and entire staff, were permitted entry into the sanctum sanctorum, among other examples claimed in the plea. The PIL sought a direction to the authorities 'to ensure equal opportunity for all devotees to perform darshan and rituals at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple without discrimination'. It sought directions against management committee 'to formulate a fair, transparent, and non-arbitrary policy regarding access to the Garbhagriha, equally applicable to all'. The PIL further sought the appointment of an independent authority to investigate the alleged preferential treatment being extended to influential persons. Case Title: Darpan Awasthi v State of Madhya Pradesh (Writ Petition 32998/2025)Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (MP) 181For Petitioner: Advocate Charchit ShastriFor Respondent: Deputy Advocate General Sudeep BhargavaClick here to read the Order

MP High Court Rejects PIL Alleging Preferential Treatment To 'VIPs' At Mahakaleshwar Temple

Jayanti Pahwa

Tags